Ramsey County proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, launches 911 text referral for survivors

Ramsey County officials on Oct. 14 proclaimed October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and unveiled a new Emergency Communication Center practice that will require 911 call takers to offer resources and send an outbound text message with a link to advocacy services.

The proclamation and the so-called Call for All initiative were presented during a ceremony that brought together county staff and representatives of local advocacy organizations, who said the change recognizes that not everyone can or will call 911 and that additional, nonconfrontational pathways can increase safety.

"Beginning next month, the emergency communication center will implement a new process required for all 911 call takers to offer the resource and send an outbound text message with a link to our website," said Natalie Simanet, an administrative planning assistant in the Emergency Communication Center. "From there, victims and survivors have autonomy over the services they receive with an advocacy organization that fits their needs."

The proclamation cited national and local data. It said nearly one in three women and one in four men experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and noted that Ramsey County logged more than 9,500 domestic-related 911 calls in the past year. The county described the Call for All process as part of a broader, cross‑departmental approach that includes trauma-informed responses and partnerships with community advocates and first responders.

Community leaders at the event — representing organizations including Women's Advocates, Tubman, Saint Paul Intervention Project (SPIP), Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) and culturally specific groups — praised the collaborative development of the initiative. "This has truly allowed us to rethink how residents are served, responding to their issue or their needs, rather than our department's jurisdictions," Simanet said.

Nancy Pass, director of the Emergency Communication Center, and Gloria Reyes, deputy county manager for the Safety and Justice service team, also spoke at the ceremony, thanking community partners and urging continued collaboration. Roxy Walker of Women's Advocates and Rae Black of Tubman spoke about survivor-centered services and the role of shelters and advocacy organizations in the county's response.

The proclamation concludes by urging residents to stand in solidarity with survivors and support prevention efforts. Ramsey County said details about the outbound text, including the web link and partner organizations, will be available on the county's website when the new process begins.